Toothbrush



Nov. 26, 1946. AARON 2,411,610

TOOTHBRUSH Fi led Dec. 15, 1944 INVENTOR -5WAA/UEL AA/PO/V ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 26, 1946 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOTHBRUSH Emanuel Aaron, New York, N. Y.

Application December 15, 1944, Serial No. 568,283

This invention relates to cleaning implements or instruments and has especial reference to toothbrushes.

An object of the present invention is the provision of improvements in a toothbrush, whereby :the brush may be conveniently used to carry out cleaning or brushing operations, and especially up and down brushing movements, on all of the upper and lower teeth and gums in the mouth of the user, in a thorough manner. A further object of the invention is the provision of a toothbrush in which the cleaning element projects laterally with respect to the handle, and is adjustable to change its angularity while disposed as aforesaid, by the mere manipulation of the parts of the handle with one hand, to the end that the user with the same hand may move the cleaning element up and down against the teeth in each arch at the front and sides of the arch.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a toothbrush of the indicated character having a detachable and replaceable cleaning element or brush section.

With the foregoing, other objects of the invention will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush embodying the features of the invention, a hand being shown in dotted lines to indicate the manner in which the parts of the handle are manipulated to adjust the angularity of the bristle section of the brush.

Figure 2 is a side view of the brush. 7

Figure 3 is a side view looking at the brush turned ninety degrees from the position shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, the section being taken approximately on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4. I

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be apparent there is shown a cleaning implement in the nature of a toothbrush including a cleaning element or section It). The section Ill consists of an elongated head I I having bristles I2 on one side thereof.

The implement also includes a handle I3 consisting of two elongated parts I4 and I5 respectively. The parts I4 and I5 are substantially of the same length and cross-sectional shape. The

5 Claims. (01. 15-172) parts I4 and I5 as shown are fiat and they are made of flexible material, such as a. cellulose or plastic composition, or any other suitable material having a degree of flexibility or resiliency so as -to bend. Each part M and I5 has a bearing I6 on one end. The bearing may be attached or be formed integral with the handle part, as in the present instance. The bearing I6 extends laterally or obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle part. Each bearing is inthe nature of a sleeve and has longitudinal grooves I'I diametrically opposite each other interiorly thereof, as shown most clearly in Figure 4 and 5. I

The handle part I4 has a slot I8 thereinextending longitudinally near the end remote from the bearing, and a key I9 is formed or otherwise secured to said part I4 near said bearing I6.

The handle part I5 carries a fastening element near the end remote from. its bearing. Said element may be a bolt or eyelet 20 of two interfitting to the longitudinal axis of the head I I.

members as shown. The handle part I 5 also has a groove or keyway 2| extending longitudinally near its bearing l6.

The, handle parts I4 and I5 are designed and adapted to be laid together flatwise with the eyelet 20 extending loosely in the slot I8 and the key I9 projecting loosely in the keyway 2 I. The parts I4 and I5 are thus connected for longitudinal movement with respect to each other. In other WOI'd'S, one handle part may he slid with respect to the other part while both parts are held in one hand, the thumb being used to slide the part I4 either in one direction or the other. Each of the parts I4 and I5 has a roughened area 22 to facilitate the manipulation of said parts. The handle parts have limited longitudinal movement by reason of the fastener 20, and the key I9 together with the fastener 20 prevent canting of the parts I4 and I5 with respect to each other.

The head of the brush section Ill has pintles 23 on one end thereof. The pintles are arranged in spaced relation to each other and areparallel The pintles 23 are loosely received in-the bearings I 6 respectively. Each pintle 23 has a cross-pin 24 capable of passing through the grooves I! when attaching the brush section II] to the handle, or when detaching the same therefrom. The crosspins 24 are disposed in recesses 25 respectively in the bearings I5 and engage the bearings to prevent detachment of the brush section I0, while enabling the pintles to turn and also have a small amount of axial movement in the bearings. When the brush section III is in a neutral position, the pins '24 will be in line with the grooves i1, thereby enabling the detachment of the brush section or its replacement.

On reference to Figure Salt will be seen the brush section is disposed in an angular position in which it projects to the right at an angle of forty-five degrees, as shown in full lines. When the handle parts it and is are moved or slid in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows, or when eitherpart is moved or slid relatively to the other part, the bearings lfi will ride on each other. This'is possible due to the flexibility or resiliency of the handle parts. The bearings 56 will assume a reversed relation by reason of the relative movement of the handle parts. This will cause the brush section Iii to rock with the pintle 23 in the hearing it of the part 55, while the other pintle 23 operates against its bearing IE on the part it. As a consequence the brush section l9 will be moved into a diiferent angular position in which it projects to the left at an angle of forty-five degreeaas indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. It will be understood the brush section i9 moves ninety degrees from one angular position to the other. The amount of angular movement of the brush section id may be more than ninety degrees if desired by originally designing the parts for that purpose.

The bearings i8 are rounded in cross section so as to easily ride on each other. Small depressions 25 in the confronting faces of the handle parts receive the respective bearings it; to aid in retaining the parts against unintentional movement.

From the foregoing it Will be understood the toothbrush may be used Wit-hone hand to easily and conveniently impart an up and down movement of the bristle section it against the teeth of both arches oi the user. The front teeth may be so brushed. Those teeth at the right side of the mouth may be brushed with the brush section it cooked to the right, and the teeth at the left side may he brushed with the brush section cocked to the left. The mere manipulation of the handle parts will cock the brush section at the desired angle with respect to the handle according to which teeth are to be brushed, those at the right or left side of the mouth, and also according to whether the implement is held in the right or left hand of the user. By gripping th handle parts the brush section It is firmly held in the desired angular position as though it were fixed to the handle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A toothbrush comprising a head having bristles on one side thereof, a handle consisting of two parts connected side by side so that the parts may be slid longitudinally relatively to each other, said handle parts having bearings on adjacent ends thereof respectively, said head having spaced pintles which are loosely received in said bearings respectively, the provision and arrangement being such that the head may be disposed in different angular positions with respect to the handle upon relative movement of the handle parts, and said head being retained in the desired angular position by gripping the handle parts to ether.

2. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said bearings has a longitudinal groove therein, and each of said pintles has a cross pin at one end movable in the groove of the related bea lllg to attach the head to and detach it from the handle, said cross pin being engageable with the related bearing to aid in retaining the head attached to the handleand enabling the pintle to rotate and also have limited axial movement with respect to its bearing.

3. A toothbrush as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bearings are disposed at an angle to the respective handle parts and in parallelism to each other.

l. A toothbrush comprising an elongated head having cleaning bristles on one side thereof, a handle consisting of two elongated parts having fiat surfaces confronting each other, means connecting said handle parts so that they may be moved longitudinally relatively to each other, said handle parts having bearings on adjacent nds respectively and projecting laterally, said head having spaced pintles on one end thereof in parallel relation and loosely received in said bearings respectively, and coactin means on the bearings and pintles whereby the pintles may turn and also have limited axial movement in said'bearings, the provision and arrangement being such that one handle part may be moved longitudinally with respect to the other, to thereby change the position of the head With respect to the handle through the intervention of the pintles and bearings, and said head being held in the set position by gripping the handle parts.

5. A toothbrush comprising a head having bristles on one side thereof, a handle consisting of two parts spaced side by side and connected so that said parts may be moved longitudinally relative to each other, said handle parts each having a transverse bearing arranged side by side on adjacent ends of said parts and the head having longitudinally extending pintles at one end which are loosely received in said bearings, so that when said parts are moved longitudinally with relation to each other said head can be adjusted about its longitudinal axis.

EMANUEL AARON. 

